Watercycle for wet rider

Abstract

A watercycle having generally do-nut shape float mounted onto a frame or chassis member, and a rider's seat situated within the hollow of the float, and which can be adjusted vertically and horizontally. Adjusting the seat to its highest level will cause the seated rider to submerge up to the hip, and adjusting it to its lowest level will cause the rider to submerge up to about the chest. The seat is likewise adjustable forward and backward for convenient foot-reach to the pedals.

What I claim is:  
     
         1 . A watercycle wherein portion of the body of a rider, below the head, is underwater comprising: 
 (a) a frame including a pair of substantially parallel runners for resting said watercycle on a solid surface and having on the front ends thereof upwardly bent portion and being connected together by a transverse member, and a pair of elevated, substantially parallel portions with front ends bent downwardly and connecting said runners immediately behind said upwardly bent portions, and the rear ends of said elevated portions bent downwardly and connecting the rear ends of said runners;    (b) a generally do-nut shape, highly buoyant float member suitably mounted onto said elevated portions of said frame, for floating said watercycle and said rider thereof;    (c) twin beam disposed longitudinally horizontally between said pair of runners and pair of elevated portions, said twin beam for supporting a rider's seat, steering column and rudder thereof;    (d) plurality of arches connected transversely apart along the intermediate portion of said pair of runners, for supporting said twin beam;    (e) steering means including first and second pulleys fixedly attached respectively to the lower portions of said column and rudder pintle, and further including a third pulley disposed rotatably underneath said twin beam between said first and second pulleys;    (f) means translating rotation from handlebar to rudder, said means including hitching an actuating cord having its front portion between said first and third pulleys hitched in parallel pattern, and the rear portion of said cord between said second and third pulleys hitched in figure “8” pattern, whereby when the handlebar is rotated in one direction, the rudder will rotate in opposite direction and thereby provide the desired heading of the watercraft;    (g) a seat, supported by said twin beam, adjustable vertically for desired submergence depth of a rider in the water, and horizontally by suitably sliding said seat along said twin beam for convenient foot-reach to the pedals, said seat adjustable vertically by aptly rotating thereof;    (h) a pedal unit having shaft on either side extended outwardly and rotatably supported intermediate the downwardly bent front ends of said elevated portion, said pedal unit adapted to communicate with means to transform a relatively low rpm pedal input into higher rpm propulsion output;    
     
     
         2 . The float recited in  claim 1  further include a concave portion underside the front end thereof, to provide sufficient room for the knees of a pedaling rider, and a channel about the underside bulge on the rear end adapted to accommodate the rear of said elevated portion of the frame when the float is mounted onto said frame;  
     
     
         3 . The seat recited in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 (a) a threaded seat post rotatably connected to a cooperating nut affixed to a base plate, said base plate being supported slidably by said twin beam;  
 (b) spacer means rigidly attached underneath a clamping plate, said clamping plate for clamping against the underside of said twin beam;  
 (c) a wing nut threadably connected to the lower portion of said seat post underneath said spacer means, whereby, when said wing nut is rotated in one direction, it will cause the clamping plate to ease off its grip against said twin beam, and when, said wing nut is rotated in the other direction, it will cause said clamping plate to apply its grip against said twin beam and thus prevent said seat from wobbling;  
 
     
     
         4 . The combination defined in claim  1 - 3  wherein said means to transform a relatively low rpm pedal input into higher rpm propulsion output includes: 
 (a) a gearbox having an input shaft in communication with said pedal unit shaft, and an output shaft in communication with a propeller shaft having at least one propeller means coupled to the rear portion thereof;  
 (b) gear train within said gearbox having a pair of ratio spur gear and a pair of ratio bevel gear arranged to transform a relatively low rpm input into higher rpm output, whereby, when said pedal unit is manipulated for movement of the watercycle, said propeller will rotate at comparatively higher rpm thereof;  
 
     
     
         5 . The combination defined in claims  1 - 3  wherein said means to transform a relatively low rpm pedal input into a higher rpm propulsion output includes: 
 (a) a relatively large-diameter drive sprocket connected to said pedal unit shaft;  
 (b) a relatively small diameter driven sprocket connected to a rotatable shaft, said shaft having at least one paddle wheel connected thereto and being mounted immediately behind said float;  
 (c) a drive chain operatively connecting said large diameter drive sprocket with said small diameter driven sprocket, whereby, when the pedal unit is manipulated for movement of the watercycle, the paddle wheel will rotate at a comparatively higher rpm thereof;  
 
     
     
         6 . The combination of claims  1 - 3  and  5  wherein said paddle wheel is vertically adjustable for ideal depth in the water, for maximizing movement of the craft thereof;  
     
     
         7 . The combination defined in claims  1 - 3  and  5 - 6  wherein the float further include a second set of deeper channel about the underside bulge region on the rear portion for accommodating said endless drive chain.